Advice for a beginner please!

[ScottishStottie]

So last spring durng furlough i planted some sunflowers. First time ever gardening, mixed the soil up a bit, added some nutrient pellet things, chucked some sunflower seeds in and hoped for the best. They grew to over 8 foot!

So for this year i wanted to try something else. Something a bit lower to the ground as it was stressful when it was windy with such tall flowers!

Area gets a lot of sun, but soil isnt too good (clay like i think)

My plan is to break it up and mix in some compost, leave for a few days to break up soil, and then i have some lavender plants to put in! Does this sound reasonable/like it'll work...?

Not really sure if lavender is the best for clay soil but read its meant to be quite hardy?

Best advice is buy what you like. If it grows and you like it brilliant. If it doesn't then try something else. Gardening is forgiving of trial and error. Build your plants up over years don't aim to have it all finished in one go. Enjoy

Thanks! Yes my plan is to take it one plant at a time, so I can tell which ones are weeds 😂

If/when the lavender takes, then ill see what i want to put with it, and build from there!

Never been particularly green fingered in the past, and cannot keep a house plant alive, but this is my first attempt at a garden!

I think lavender is a great choice, it really loves the sun and is very forgiving.

The great problem with clay soil is lack of drainage (so it gets very wet and then impacted and then hardens like a rock when the weather is dry) so you are right to mix in lots of compost and I would also put sharp sand in too (prob can get from garden centre, if not builders merchant), use loads and loads of both. That will give them the best start you can.

Yes i read about the drainage issue, and also read somewhere that lavender needs good drainage so hopefuly compost will do its job...

I have a massive bag from B and Q, my plan is to loosen the original soil, remove some of it, add in the compost and then mix it all up, is that how to do it? How long would you say to leave it to do its thing before planting the lavender?

For lavender to thrive in clay you'll need to dig in a lot of grit.

Nepeta/catmint would give a similar look but have more chance in your soil.

It's lovely to create a new garden OP and clay can be hard work so don't rush it. Remember you don't have to do it all at once.

Lavender should do well, also alchemilla mollis, aster, helebore, day lily or foxgloves. Some plants go a bit berserk if they're happy, especially . I have a 'no dig' policy - I only dig to plant or divide and get away with mulching otherwise which should help to nourish the soil. Happy planting.

When I started out a few years ago I just went to the garden centre and bought things I liked the look of, I had no idea what most of them where but thought I would just give it a try, some things survived and some didn’t, I am slowly learning their names and what conditions they like. I now try and buy things that the bees and butterflies like because I love watching them in the garden so things like lavender, Fox gloves and buddleia have been added to the garden. This year I’m trying some summer bulbs and growing a few flowers from seeds.

A good idea is have a look in gardens around you as they will have similar soil. See what grows well without too much attention. The chances are it will suit your garden too.

Roses are fairly reliable in clay soils. You could try a climber against a wall.

You'll need a lot of drainage for lavender, adding plenty of sand or grit will help. Get hardy varieties.

I like the idea of low maintenance plants that look pretty and come back every year (which i think lavender does?) So any suggestions that fit this would be great!

The garden had rose bushes in when we moved in which we removed, at the time we had a small dog and the thorns were an issue. Not too keen on them for this reason, but soil type was probably why they were here.

Garden was previously professionally maintained and we have let it get into disrepair, so want to rectify and make it pretty again, but it does feel intimidating when knowing that it took a professional to look like it did when we moved in!

I like anemones and hardy geraniums. V low maintenance but pretty flowers.

Nasturtiums are colourful ,easy to grow and low but annual.

Thank you for the suggestions! Will need to venture out to a garden centre at some point to see what i like, and will be having a good look in neighbours gardens to see what they have growing that i like as well!

If you liked the sunflowers, you can get ones that don't grow as tall, then you can still enjoy the flowers.

As you’ve had success with sunflowers, why not try shorter varieties of sunflower seeds. Some have lovely bronze flowers and only grow a couple of feet.

@Mintjulia

A good idea is have a look in gardens around you as they will have similar soil. See what grows well without too much attention. The chances are it will suit your garden too.

Roses are fairly reliable in clay soils. You could try a climber against a wall.

That's an excellent suggestion.

And if you happen to pass a house where someone is gardening, and strike up a conversation with them, they will often be more than happy to share information and advice.

Gardeners are nice like that. I've learned loads from just stopping and asking someone what a particular plant is.